how to choose your hostel

How To Choose Your Hostel

May 15, 2012

While most of the travel I’ve done since creating Bohemian Trails has either been sponsored or personal, I have stayed in countless hostels on my own dime and understand that choosing one is not always the easiest decision. Here are three things to consider before picking where to stay.

1) Do you want to make friends?

Making friends through travel is almost synonymous with hostels. Most hostel-goers are young and on a budget, meaning that they are generally more open to meeting other international travelers. To make friends before your trip even starts, WeHostels is a good option. Unlike other booking sites, you are able to see who is staying at each hostel and connect with them before the trip starts. I find this especially useful for solo travelers looking to find potential travel buddies before arriving in a particular city.

2) Is location important to you?

If you are simply looking for the cheapest hostel in town, you can easily compare prices on HostelWorld or other similar sites. However, if your goal is to be in the city center, it’s worth paying extra money and doing a bit of research. Centrally located hostels might be pricier but they will also be much closer to museums, popular restaurants and city attractions. Keep in mind that most cities have public transportation so even if you are farther than you would like, it may just require a few minutes on a bus or train.

3) Do you care about environment?

For me, atmosphere is the most important element of hostel booking. My goal is to feel comfortable where I’m staying, even if that means I’m sharing a room with five other girls. Hostels that have nice outdoor patios, bars or free daily tours are things that I find useful. Some of the best hotels I’ve stayed at were not the most social or the cheapest option, but I felt at home. More and more, hostels are taking this cue from travelers by upgrading their common spaces and creating local activity programs.

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Hi! I’m Megan,

a Scorpio sun and Libra moon who left her job in the music industry to travel and write full-time. Since then, i´ve explored more than 60 countries in the hopes that you will, too.

The world is made of magic and so are you!

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